Self-heating device such as soldering irons



April 8,1930.

l. COWLES SELF HEATING DEVICE SUCH AS SOLDERING IRONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 13, 1925 April 8, 1930. l. cowLEs l 1,753,741

SELF HEATING DEVICE SUCH As SOLDERING IRONS Original Filed July 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orties InvING oOWLns, or DETROIT, MIoIIIeAN'AssIeNO'R rro UNION :BANK or citron-Go', O

CHICAGO, ILLINOrsA CORPORATION or ILLINOIS, TRUSTEE 4 v senr-HEATING :onvion suon ,es soLnnIiINe IRONs Appiieation ined Jey is, iesaseriai'No. 43,114. Renewed september 7,1929.

This invention relates to gas-heating and gas-heated devices of the type wherein the gas is fed toa gas-burner constituting a part of the device to be heated, sucln for example, as a soldering iron. 1

The particular objects of the invention are l. To provide a gas-burner adapted for heating purposes of all kinds which may be easilyV and quickly adjusted to produce substantially perfect combustion of the gas fed thereto,i`and in which they limits of adjusty ment are suchas to adapt the burner vto the quality and pressure of the gas, on the one hand, and produce arelatively long jet of burning gas under the pressures at which gas is ordinarily fed from city mains and'service pipes. Y

2. To provide a burner: of the type aforesaid' which, when used for heating a'solcering tipk or other device coupled with the burner for continuous heating, will not become extinguished by manipulation of the said tip or other deviceV resulting in varying the curvatures of the gas-feed hose connecting the burner with the source of supply of fuel gas. 1,

3. To provide a gas-burner 4of the type aforesaid wherein the gas flow isinaintained always axiallyV of the mixing chamber and fuel outlet to th ereby permit of more perfect adniixtui'e of gas and air and impingement of the darne constantly upon'a predetermined surface area of the unit, such as a soldering tip, to be heated thereby.

4. To provide a. gas heated device, such yas a soldering iron, including'` a combustion chamber, gas-burner and unit to be heated, occupying very small space and easily adjustable with respect to each other to vary-'tinx length of the combustion chamber and, accordingly, the distance of the unit to be heated from the discharge end of the burner to thereby regulate the normal temperature of the heated unit. 'l Y '5. To provide a gas-heated device, such as a soldering iron, wherein the unit to be heated is so coupled with the wall or walls Aof the combustion chamber as to be inseparable therefrom under conditions of normal usage.

i Other objects of theiiiveiitionand lthe advantages of the same vare hereinafter pointed out or will be fully understoodfrom the following specication. c

In theV accompanying drawings', Ihave illustrated the inventionl as embodied in a soldering iron as exemplary of a very widely Y employed device adapted `for gas-heating.

In said 'drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a solderingv iron constructed in accordance with the invention. y

`Fig. 2 is a ,fragmentaryl central longitudinal section of thesame on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. vation, partly in section, of thelower end portion of the device. i

Figs.. 4 and 5 are' transverse sections on the lines 4.-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 2. j p

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a' valve anda valve-operatingmember, respectively, of the device.A

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary longitudinal sections of thegas-hurner portion of the device illustrating different types of burner tips ei'nployed.r l p i Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line io io of Fig. i. l

The invention is` illustrated Vas* embodied ina soldering iron for the reason that de- 3 is a fragmentary detail view in ele-V Eilvse

vicesl of this class' heated by fuelA gasobtaiiic'd i Y from city service pipes have knot heretofore been successful, so far as I am'informed. 1because the low `pressures atr which gas is delivered from service pipes and the ydifferences in quality and variations in pressures' at differ-- ent hours of the day have proven insurmountableV obstacles to continuous successful Ooeration. A condition incident to the use of soldering irons is that their `positions when being'used are greatly varied so that at times the jet of flame` is delivered at an upward iiicline and at other times vertically or at downward inclines at almost any angle from hori- Zontal to vertical. It hasY been found that uponk chan ging the position of thel device from a downwardly to an upwardly inclined position, they flame would extinguish and that when disposed verti-cally or substantially vertically, the jet of flame would not impinge upon the copper tip and, also, that a backflow of products of combustion would occur and either extinguish the flame or cause the same to become yellow and smoky.

To construct a gas-burner which will ob- Aviate the many difiiculties which have, so far as I am informed, defeated success of soldering irons ofthe self-heating type to which the invention relates, proved tor be a problem very difiicult of solution because a seemingly insignificant variation in construction or adjustment caused such va vast difference in re! sults, this being particularly true Vwith respect to differences in qualityy of gas or of pressure or both so that adevice, that was thoroughly practical in Chicago was wholly unsuccessful in another tow'n or city.

rI`he soldering iron illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described has proved thoroughly successfulwherever it has been used. The reasons for itssuccess where others have failed are necessarily more or less mystifying asno theory relating to gas, consumption under widely varying conditions of quality and pressure appears to be reliable; hence, I can advance only guesses as to the reasonsunderlying the success of my structure.

rIhe lattcrcomprises the head 1 which is here shown to be cylindrical -as best adapted for association with a soldering tip. Said head is provided with a central opening which isof smallerl diameter in the louter than in the inner end of the head, the smaller diameterportion being indicated at 2 vand the larger at 3, the, latter being threaded throughout its entire length and said portion 2 being enlarged and threaded at opposite ends. A gasfdelive'ry pipe 4 engages in the outer end portion of the part 2 orintake end of the said opening, anda delivery tip 5 is fitted to the discharge end of said portion 2 and projects into the larger portion 3. For convenience I shall term said portion 2 the gas-supply chamber and the portion 3 the mixing chamber of the device.

The tip 5 is cutfrom a hexagonal rod. to provide a hexagonal peripheral portion (ibetween its ends. the dischargeV end portion constituting a hollow cone the interior tapered surface of which constitutesa seat `for the tapered end of the valve17 which is reciprocable inthe cylindrical bore ofthe shank of said tip 5 and the middle portion of the bore 2 which is of the same diameter as the bore of the shank of the tip. The conical end portion of said tip 5 is provided with a central opening 8 and the conical end portion of the valve 7 with a minute central opening 9, the body of said valve being hollow and open at its other end. At the meeting line of the conical and cylindrical portions of said valve 7 I providean'annular a transverse slot'15 for engagement with a screw-driver. Said shaft iies in a radial opening 16m the head 1 which is threaded in its outer endportion to receive the gland 17 between which and said flange 14, packing 18 is compressed, the said flange engaging an annular shoulder 19 bordering the smaller inner end portion of thel opening 16, said packing providing a fluid-tight joint to prevent escape of gas. The gland 17 is provided with a slot 2O in its outer end for engaging a screw-driver. The packing 18 also serves to resist rotation of the shaft 13 andthus serves to hold the same suficiently tirmlyat any point in'its rotationl to which itV may be adjusted to fix the position of the valve 7 with respect to its seat toprevent accidental movementof said valve.

The head lis provided with a number of small longitudinal' openings 21 extending v from its outer end into the to-p of the mixing chamber 3 for supplying'air tothe latter which is drawn in by flow of gasthrough said chamber. Adjacent toits outer end the said head is provided with an annular groove 22 thus leaving an annular flange 23 at the said outer end. From the inner end of the headV a plurality of longitudinal bores 24 lead'into the said groove 22for supplying air to the combustion chamber of the device which vlies withinfthe! tube 25 telescopically associated at one end with said head 1 and carrying the soldering tip 26 at its other end, the latter being rigidly and permanently` associated with said tube25 in the manner shown and hereinafter described.

Threaded into the mixing chamber 3 is a member 27 which is equipped with a central internally threaded nozzle portion 28 and with a tapered bore 29 the smaller end portion of which terminates in the bore of the nozzle 28. The taper of the bore 29 differs from that of the conical end of the tip 5 so that ugon'v approaching said tip 5 there vwill be a narrower annular space between the upper end of said member 27 and the opposed portion of said tip than between the discharge end of the latter and the opposed portion of bore 29. In this way the portion of said bore 29 disposed belowthe point of the tip 5 and which constitutes the actual mixing chamberfor gas and air discharged from the nozzle 28 is proportioned tothe gas and air supply passages leading` to the same to effect propermixture and rpermit expansion of gases under the influence of heat absorbed by said head'. This relative taper of surfaces has been found to materially affect the successful operation of the device. The member 27 is very similar to a valve for varying the area of the air intake opening and also varyingthe size of the mixing chamber proportionately to the area of the air intake.

Mounted upon the outer end ofthe gassupply pipe 4 is a cylindrical member 30 having a. smooth bore of considerably larger diameter than the cuter diameter ofsaid pipe, said member being externally threaded at its outer end to receive theV cap-nut 31. Extending freely through the central openingin the nut 31 is a tube 32 having a bent outer end portion 33 over which the discharge end of the gas supply hose 34 is fitted. Inthe outer face of the inner end of said tube 32 is an annular groove into whicha split collar of wire is fitted to provide a stop for the slidable collar 36 mounted on saidtube 32. Between the collar 36 and a similar collar 37, packing 3S is disposed, the opposed faces of said collars 36 and 37 being shown to be beveled but saidbeveling being unimportant.l `A helical compression spring 39 disposed between the collar 37 and the nut 31 serves to force said collar 37 toward'they collar 36 to` thereby bulge the packing 3S so that it will hug the opposed cylindrical surfaces between which it is disposed and thus provide fluid- 41 is loosely mounted on Ythe pipe `4, said flange bein@ provided with a plurality of spacing projections 42 for maintaining it spaced from the flange 23 of the head 1. @ne of said projections 42 is provided with a reduced extension portion 43 engaging in'an opening in the flange 23 for preventing rotation of the collar 40 relatively to the head 1. The diameter of the collar 40 coincides with that of the member 30, both thereof fitting the bore of a handle 44 disposed between the cap-nut 31 and the flange 41, a washer 45 of non-heat conductive material being disposed between the ange 41 andthe opposed end of the handle 44 for preventing Contact of the thumb of the operator with the flange 41 which becomes quite hot. The handle 44 and washer 45 may be advantageously made of ground-cork composition.

The portion of the head 1 which entersythe tube 25 'is of smaller diameter than the outer end portion so as to provide an annular shoulder 46 'fixing the limit of relative movement of the tube 25 and head 1 in one direction.` The tubeis provided with av series of perforations 47 disposed at different distances from vthe adjacent end ofthe tube. A setscrew 48'in the-head 1 is adapted to bepassed through any one of the openings 47 to thereby vary the distance of the soldering tip 26 from the opposed 'end of the head 1 for reasons hereinafter pointed out. v

It 's very desirable that the total weight of the device should be maintained as low as possible and also that it should becapable of being manufactured at small cost andl the perishable `portions renewable at low cost. The tubel25 is one of the perishable Aparts and the tip 26 is the other, the tube requiring to be renewed quite as frequently as the tip 26. It

is also requisitethat the tube 25 and.v tip 26 should be so firmly united as to prevent any lost motion between them. VThe difference in' coefficients ofl expansion of the copper of ner as to preventv loosening under the condi-` tions of use,-the,difliculty of machining copper adding to the problem. v Furthermore, the tube 25 and tip 26 must be so constructed as to provide draft channels for the discharge of products of vcomlmstion and, because of the diiliculty of machining the copper and the desirability of rendering it as dense as possiblefthe tip26must-be designed for production by drop-forging.

The @ad portami al@ fue@ e5' aimais" attached tothe tip, 26, is provided with preferably four recesses 49 having parallel side walls and angular end walls thereby, providing four arms 50. at the-end of the tube. The latter are Vprovided at their free 4ends with lateral, substantiallyl triangular projections 51 which are ofv greatest width at the extreme ends of said arms. Each ofthe latter is provided also witha N-erforation through which a proj ectionv 52 offthe tip'26 is adapted to pass, the outer ends of said projections being then spread like rivets to secure the arms 50 tothe tip. The latter is substantially a square in cross-section, the corners 53 thereof being fiattened or rounded to provide surfaces substantially.l equal in width to the middle portions of thearms l50. Between theiiattened corner portions the tip is provided with the recesses 54 which are of greatest depth at the head of the tip 26 within the tube and vanish in` thel plane of the ends of the arms 50 substantial- 1y.' By means of suitable equipment, the projections 51 of the arms 50 are bent inwardly with a force sufiicient to embed them in the copper at the sides of the recesses 54 so that they alone wouldserve toprevent all play between said tip 26 and the tube 25. The

projections 52 are, however, verydesirable The shape of the recesses'49 appears'to be importantit` being obvious thatitheiinner end portions ofi diametrically` opposed recesses:` are thus oifsetffrom the main portions there-4 of. The perforations between-the; inner-'- most end portions ofthe recesses t9-also appear to be of importance. Y

The end of the tip 26l opposing the head l is slightly convex. y

The operation ofthe device is as follows:

Gas fed from the hose 84 passes through tube'82 and pipe 4 into the valve-chamber within and above the tip 5.- Assumin'g the valve 7 to be seated, the gas must pass through the central opening 9 of the valve 7 and the opening 8 of the tip 5 intoand through the mixing'chamber 8 and bore vportions of the' member 27 and nozzle 28. The velocity of the jet of. gas, dependent upon the service pressure, causes the air insaid chamber 8 to be mixed with gas and discharged therewith from the nozzle, thereby creating a partial vacuum in the mixing chamber and a consequent liow of airinto the same through the passages 2l which, it will bev noted, are parallel with the direction of iiow of the gas.

lVhere ther pressure is low and the gas is lean of carbon, the removable tip 56 of Fig. 2 or 57 and 58, respectively, of Figs. 8 and 9 is oinittedand the member 27 projected somewhat farther outwardly than is shownV in Fig. 2 to thus provide for free flow of air into the mixing chamber and minimum re-l sistance to discharge of themiXed air and gas from the'nozzle 28 into and. through the combustion chamber of'thetube`25. Asuflicient amountof air is thus admixed'with the to produce a blue''lame which is subvstantially cylindrical in form land impinges against the center of the head1 of the. tip 28 withoutspreading materially from the area of 'impingement- In 4iowin'gi through the combustion chamber the jet of burning fluid produces a flow Vof air inthe same direction for dischargev through the openings49 and recesses 54e, the discharged air being replaced by flow through the passages24t which are also parallel with the direction of Vfio'w `of the gas. vThis relative arrangementof' air passages withrespect to direction offlow of gasvtogether with the number and diameters of said passages appears to belof great importance to the success of the struct-ure. The number, size andrelative positions of the passages 2A: must, apparently, be very carefullyrgauged in order to prevent back-flow of Igases or productsiof combustion whenthe jet of fiame projects downwardly or to produce sufficient resistance to flow' of air into the combustion chamber to appreciably retard the velocityof- 'low of thecombustible and burninggas, it being observed Vthat the gross lengthof'the Vjet of flame is substantially thesame when projected `downwardly as when projected horizontally or upwardly.

56, 57 or 58 is employed, each of said tipsl aroducinfr different results to a Greater or lessdegree than-the others with respect to Vforce of blast, proportion of air admixed with the gas, etc. The results can be greatly varied byv adjusting the member 27 to increase or decrease the size of the mixing cham-V ber; adjusting the particular tip employed with respect to extent of its projection, from the nozzle 28; and, of course, by adjustment of the valvey 7. so wide and the conditions requiring them so varied as to render a full account thereof too longto be permissible ina patent'specilication.`

It will be noted thatjthe bore-of the tip 56 is ofv the same diameter throughout While that ofthe tips 57 and 58is enlarged at the discharge end, the mouth portion of the tip4 58.-being also provided with radialrecesses 59 to permit lateral passage of air into the enlarged mouth portion for admixture with" the combustible fluid, the tip. 58 being particularly adapted for gas rich in carbon.

Y It will be observed that when the valve 7 is seated the flow ofgas will be limited to the capacity of thefopening'Q .but'when moved from its seat additional gas will be supplied through the radial openings ll, the gas being equally` distributed by means of the groove l() and cone-shaped passage leading to the opening 8. The central jet through the opening 9 serves to causetheadditional gas to flow in al substantially' cylindricaland accurately directed stream through-the'mixingchamber'and from ,the nozzle 28 andthe tip V56, 57er 58 thereofshould Vany ofthe latter'be used.

v By removing the `tube 25,the device maybe employed as a pre-heating or other torch/but its greatest merit liesv in its associationwith the tube 25 and tip 2G, the latter being exemplary of the element of any kind to be maintainedconstantly at a substantially lfixed' high temperature.

It is very necessary, in the caseof soldering irons, that thesoldering tip shall be rotatable in order to equally distribute i wear on the point thereof. Hence. the swivel connection with the gas feedhose'is essential andi itis quite as essential'that the handle 44=should be non-rotatable relatively-to pipe 4 or tip 26.y Conining the handlea't,v under' pressure,

between the nut'lfand' spacing flange' 4l The range of adjustments is' might servebut it is preferableto provide a very snug fit between the collar ll() and the bore of the handle 44 and between the latter and the member l for frictionally resisting rotation of the handle. f

The hose Se is connected at its other or intal-:e end with a valvejcontrolled gas outlet, the valve of which requires to be adjusted to variY the feed to Vthe hose in all instances where the service pressure exceedsa certain soot and generation of carbon-monoxide) as is adapted to maintain the element 26 at the desired temperature, utilizing such quality of gas as may be available to the operator at whatever pressure the same is delivered from the service pipes. Variations in service pressures at such times of day in which consumption is greatest, are generally compensated for by adjusting the lservice outlet valve to the hose 34. Y Y

claim as my invention l. .A device ofthe kind specified compris- 'in' a combustion chamber, an element to be heated mounted at one end thereof, a member mounted at the other end thereof provided with air supply passages for connecting said combustion chamber with atmosphere, a central mixing chamber in said member having a central discharge duct into said combustion chamber, there being a central intake opening at the other end of said mixing chamber, a valve-seat bordering one end of said opening, a valve seating on said valve-seat for controlling the volume of gas fed to said vmixing chamber, air passages vconnecting the gas-intake end of the latter with atmosphere, and a member adjustable inthe discharge end .of said mixing chamber for coaction with the'said valve-seat for controlling the volume of air admitted to said mix- '.ing chamber.

A device of the kind specified comprisin f an intermediate"cylindrical member havving a plurality of sets of air passages extending longitudinally thereof, an axially disposed mixing chamber associated with one set of said air passages, a gas'supply pipe connested with one end of said mixing chamber, a valve associated with `said pipe for controlling the volume of gas entering lsaid mixing chamber, a discharge opening in the other end Y of the latter, a combustion chamber'disposed to receive gas discharged from vsaid mixing chamber and air passing through"v theother setof air passages, an element to be heated disposed vattheother end ofsaid combustion chamber, there being -coacting openings in the wall of the combustion chamber and re- Ycessesgin the elementv tobe heated for discharge of products Vof combustion, means for varying ythe 'distance of the element to be heated `from the point of discharge of gases Vfrom the mixing chamber, a handle disposed about the gas feed pipe, connection between thelatter and a source of supplyof gas, means for prevent-ing relative longitudinal and r0- tary movement between said handle and said pipe, and a spacing element between said handle and said intermediate member for permitting free access of air to said air passages.

3. A device of the kind specified comprising an intermediate cylindrical head provided with a central mixing chamber, a gas supply pipe'connected with one end ofsaid mixing chamber, a V valve intermediate the ends of the latter for controlling thesupply of gas to the saine, a plurality of longitudinal A 190 air passages connecting lthe intake end portion of said chamber withatinosphere, a valve element in the ldischarge'e'nd Vof said chamber operatively associated with said air passages forcontrolling the volume of air admitted to said chamber, a central discharge opening in said valve-member, agas-discharge tip longitudinally adjustable in said discharge opening, a combustion chamber disposed to receive gasesfrom said mixing chamber, an

element to be heated mounted at the far end ofgsaid combustion chamber, a plurality of longitudinal air passages in said head connecting the receiving end of said combustion chamber with atmosphere, a handle mounted on said gas supply pipe, connectionl between the latter andwith a source of gas, a spacing member for spacing said handle from said head and maintaining the same non-rotatable relatively to the latter, and a nut on the other end of said pipe for compressing the handle againstV said spacing member. 4. Inga device of the kind specified, a tube constituting the combustion chamber, said tubeterniinating ina plurality ofprojections equally spaced from each other and each provided with a perforation, a soldering tip provided Yat one end with recesses bordered by surface portions corresponding in number with said projections and each equipped with a raised portion for 'passing through one of said perforations and overturned upon the outer faces of said projections for permanently securing the latter to said tip.

5. In a device of the kind specified, a tube constituting 'the'"`combustion chamber, said vtubeterminating ina plurality of projections equallyspacedfrom each other and each Y providedwith a perforationbetween its side edges and with ears atits side edges, a soldering tip provided at one end with recesses bor- Athrough one of said perforations and overturned upon the outer faces of said projec- V-ftions for permanently `securing .the latter to 4said tip, said ears bent over'and embedded in the Walls of said recesses for coaction With said overturned raised portions for permanently coupling said tip With said, tube.

A devise of the kind specified including -a combustion chamber, an element to be heated mounted at one end thereof, air pas- ,Sagesdischarging into the other end thereof, a mixing chamber having a central discharge opening leadinglinto the last-named end portion of the combustion chamberaxiallly ofthe latter, air passagesdischarging.into 4the other; end of the mixing chamber, a gaschamberfdisposed todischarge into the lastnamed end portion ofthe-mixing chamber, 'there being a gas duct connecting the gas and mixing chambers centrally or' both said Vchziinbers and axially aligned lWith the firstnamed discharge opening, a tapered surface bordering the gas-duct, the discharge end wall ofthe mixing chamber having an inner tapered -face opposing ,the tapered surface bordering the gas-duct and said Walladjustable to vary the distance between-said tapered surfacesto therebyvary the size-of said mix- .ing chamber and vary thevolume of air admitted to the latter. c

7. A device of the kindspecified including a` combustion chamber, an element to be heated mounted at one end thereof, air passages discharging into the other end thereof, a mixing chamber having a central discharge opening' leading into the last-named endportion vof the combustion chamber axiallyof the latter, air passages discharging into the other end of the vmixing chamber, a gaschamberdisposed to discharge into the lastnamed end portion of the mixing chamber, there being a gas-,duct-connecting the gas and mixing chambers centrally of both said chambers and axially aligned Withr the firstnamed discharge opening, a tapered surface bordering the gas-duct, the discharge end Wall of the mixing chamber havingan inner tapered face opposing thetapered surface `bordering the gas-ductV and said Wall ad-V justable to vary the rdistance Abetween said tapered surfaces to thereby vary thesize of said mixing chamber and vary the volume of air admitted to the latter, and. a valve controlling the said gas-duct.

8. 'A device of the kind specified` including a combustion chamber, an element to be heated mounted at oneend thereof, air passages discharging into the other `-end thereof, a

mixing chamber havingacentral discharge` vopening leading into `thellast-named ,end portion of thecombustion chamber axiallyof the' latterfair passages. -,diaclllrgingv into ,the

:other end of themixing chamber, a gas-chamber disposed to discharge into the last-named Iend portion-of the mixing chamber, there being a 'gas-duct, connecting the gas and mixing chambers centrally of both said chambers and axially-aligned with thefirst-named dischart'gfe opening, a tapered surface bordering the gas-duct, the vdischarge end Wall of the i `mixingchamber having` an inner tapered face opposing the tapered surface bordering the Agas-duct and said wall adjustable to Vary the distance between said tapered surfaces to; thereby vary: the sizeof saidmixing chamber and vary the volume of air admitted to the latter,-anda valve having a central duct and surface grooves arranged to control the volume of y'gas passing Vthrough said gasduct in excess of a substantially predetermined minimum volume.

9. A device of the kind specied including aa' cylindrical combustion chamber having exhaust openings at one end, an element to be heated mounted atsaid'end of said chamber, a cylindrical member-closing the other ,end of said chamber and lia-ving an axially disposed gas passage and mixing chamber respectively communicating with each other through anaxial duct, twosets of longitudinal -air passages in-said cylindrical member arranged around andsspaced from the gas passage, one set connecting the intake end of the combustion chamberand the other set .connecting the intake end portion of the mixing chamber With'atmosphere, a member ad- `justably disposedin the discharge end of the .mixing chamber and having-a central duct connecting the latter With the combustion chamber, said .adjustable member coacting .with the dischargeend Wa'llof the gas chamber and the-volume of air admitted to the latter through the air passages associated with the vmixingchamber.

10. A device of the kind'specilied including a cylindrical combustion chamber having exhaust openings at one end, an element .to be'heated mounted at said end of said chamber, a cyl-indricalmember closing the other end lof lsaid chamber and having-an axially disposed gas passage and mixing y,chamber respectively communicating with ,each other through an-axiall duct, two sets of longitudinal air passages insaid-cylin- ,d1-ical member arranged. around and spaced from the gaspassage, one set connecting the intake end of thecombustion chamber and v.the other-set connectingthe intake end portion lof the mixing chamber ywith atmosphere, a member .adjustably disposed inthe discharge' end of the mixing chamberand having a lcentra-l duct connectingthe latter with 1 the combustion chamber, Qsaid vadjustable membercoacting with the dischargeendvwall ofthejgas Achamber and the lVolume of air admitted to rthelatter through the.- :air .paseases eSSOatQ-Cl with the lInitiate chamber, f

and a valve controlling the last-named duct.

. ll. In a heating device, a combustion chamber, a gas chamber and a mixing chamber, the latter disposed between the and combustion chambers, there being'ducts axially aligned with each other and disposed axially of said several chambers connecting the gas chamber with the mixing chamber and the latter with the combustion chamber, air ducts disposed parallel with cach other connecting the combustion and mixing chambers respectively with atmosphere, and means for adjusuing the length of the mixing chamber and simultaneously therewith controlling the associated with the same.

12'. In a heating device, a combustion chamber, a gas chamber and a mixing chamber, the latter disposed between the gas and coinbustion chambers, there being ducts axially aligned with eachother and disposed axially of said several chambers connecting thegas chamber with the mixing chamber and the latter with the combustion chamber, air ducts disposed parallel with each other connecting the combustion and mixing` chambers .respectively with atmosphere, and means for adjusting the length of the mixing chamber and simultaneously therewith controlling the supply of air thereto from thev air passages associated with the same, and a valve controlling the duct connecting the gas and mixing chambers.

13. A device of the kind specified includmixingvchamber connected with each other by means of an axial opening, a gas feed passage connecting the mixing chamber with axiallyaligned with said first-named opening, and two sets of air passages parallel around the mixing chamber, one set of said air passages connecting the combustion chainber and the otherset connecting the mixing chamber with atmosphere, and a valve controlling the gas feed opening for said mixv ing chamber.

' 15. In a device of the kind specified, a mixing chamber having an adjustable discharge end wall for longitudinally contracting and enlarging said chamber, air supply supply of air thereto from the air passages ing a cylindrical combustion chamber and a Y axially aliO'ned with said first-named coen-` with the axis of said chambers and arranged lducts connecting the other end of said chamber with atmosphere, and means opposed to the'inner end of said adjustable wall and coactmg therewith to effect decrease of air supply to 'said chamber `as the latter is con-` tracted and vice versa v .16'. In a device of the kindspecilied, a cylindrical mixing chamber having an adpassages connecting the' latter with atmos-` phere disposed to; discharge into said chambei` aroundsaid member, the latter and said` adjustable end wall coacting tocoiitrol the supply of air to said chamber proportionate- `ly to increase and decrease in length of the latter. i `17; -A device of the kind specified includ-- ing a cylindrical tube constituting acombustion chamber, an element tobe` heated rigidly and non-adjustably mountedat one end f thereof, ,a cylindrical member telescopically associated with the other end thereof, cen. tral gas supplyand mixing chambers vin said member, the lat-ter discharging 'axially' into said combustion chamber, Alongitudinal .air

passages in said inemberfarranged around said mixing chamber for connecting the commeansV for'detachably and adjustably associating said tube with said member for varying the length of said combustion chamber.

18. A device of the kind specified includ'-V `groove in said member between they handle element and they portion thereof containing said air passages and rcommunication with all of the latter. Y

19.A soldering Airon of the kind specified i including atube equippedy at one end with a head to be heated, said tube provided at said end with a plurality of recesses each having in partparallel Walls constitutinglthe side edges of arms tovvhich saidl head is secured, one of said walls of each recess extending inwardly toward the other end of the tube a greater distance than the other of said walls the remaining wall of said recess being angularly disposed. i

20. A soldering iron ofthe kind specified including a tube equipped 'at one end with a head to be heated, said tube provided at said Vend witha plurality of arms havingparallel side walls extending parallel with Vthe longil bustion chamber with atmosphere, andk tudinal axis of said tube, there being draft recesses in said tube behind said head bordered in part by said side Walls, one of the i latter beinglonger than the other, and a dila-gonally disposed Wall connecting the inner ends of said parallel Walls, said diagonal Walls at diametricallyvopposed parts of said tube being oppositely disposed.

21.*A soldering iron of the kind specified including a tube equipped at one end With a head to be heated, said tube'provided at said end with a plurality of arnis having parallel side Walls extending parallel With the longitudinal axis of said tube, there being draft recesses in said ytube behind said head bor-y dered in part by said side Walls, one of the latter being` longer tlian the other, and a. diagonally disposed Wall connecting the inner ends of said parallel Walls, said diagonal Walls at diametrically opposed parts of said tube being oppositely disposed, there being a :perforation in said tube adjacent each of said diagonalwalls.

22. In a soldering iron of the type specified, a tube equipped at one end with a head to be heated and constituting the combustion v chamber of the device, there being tivopairs of draft openings in said tube adjacent said head, the openings of each pair being diametricallyopposed to each other and relatively arranged so that, When the tube is horizontally disposed, only a small portion of -each of the area of a pair of said openings -Will be iii vertical alignment with a similar portion of the other of said pairs to thereby prevent in part the deflection of flame by updraft throughsaid pairs of openings 23. In a soldering iron of the type specitied, a tube equipped at one end with a head to be heated and constituting the combustion chamber of the device, there being two pairs of draft openings in said tube'adjacent said head, the openings of each pair being diainetiically opposedto each other and relatively arranged so that when the tube is hori- Zontally disposed, only aV small portion of each of the area of a pairof said 'openings Will be in vertical'alignment with a similar portion of the other of said pairs to thereby prevent in part the deflection of iianie by updraft through said pairsof openings, there being aperforation in said tube adjacent each of said draft openings arranged to be out of vertical alignment with each other When said openings are 11iV part vertically aligned as aforesaid. Y Y

IRVING COWLES. 

